Ok, I know we covered this already with Clerics and Paladins but now that we also have Druid in the game something really needs to be done to address this. It's my understanding that in 5E Clerics and Paladins can use shields as a spell focus and I believe that for Druid a quarterstaff can count as a spell focus AND most importantly, the hand holding the spell focus can be used to make the somatic component. I really think they need to allow somatic spell casting for these classes.
The Druid spell Shillelagh can only be cast on a club or staff that you are currently holding but since it has a somatic component you can't cast it if you are also holding a shield. If you switch to your other weapon set to have a free hand, you still can't cast the spell because it can only target a club or staff you are currently holding (not in inventory or other weapon slot).
Thoughts? Am I missing something?
Druid seems able to cast spells when holding a two-handed spear/javelin in only one hand.
Druid seems able to cast spells when holding a two-handed spear/javelin in only one hand.
Yes, but Druids should be able to use a shield and staff or club without loosing ability to cast somatic spells which is not allowed in Solasta.
I bought a spell components belt pouch for my druid, but still not able to cast spells with material component. I think it's a bug/oversight.
Druid seems able to cast spells when holding a two-handed spear/javelin in only one hand.
Yes, but Druids should be able to use a shield and staff or club without loosing ability to cast somatic spells which is not allowed in Solasta.
Well, when you say they "should", it depends on how you apply the 5e rules. By default, in Solasta, they apply a strict interpretation whereby having a shield & weapon in hand prohibits casting with a Somatic component. That applies to Paladins, Clerics, Wizards using two daggers for example, so WHY should it not apply to the Druid. :P
By changing the setting that is included in the game (disable Somatic component), Druids, Paladins, Clerics, and all others can now use a shield or wield two weapons and cast without micro-managing the free hand (without using the one free object Interaction per turn).
On the other hand, one can wonder how the f... a Druid is supposed to cast Shillelagh with a shield in 5e. That aspect of the 5e rules sparks many interpretations, debates and headaches (I cast the spell on by club, and then pull it out with my 1 free Interaction per turn. Which is needless complexity).
ps : currently, I am playing the "micro-management" game with my Druid, to try it for fun. I think it will get very tedious after a while.
That said, do I like that strict interpretation in tabletop D&D sessions ? No. :P If I DM, I would use a simplified version because the whole "hand management" thing and relevant rules create too much debate and confusion. For example, like Sunseekers mentions, this restriction does not apply to two-handed weapons (greatsword, staff, bow), but penalizes shield users and using two weapons (the two later being somewhat advantageous).
nb - my tabletop simplification is as follows : if you cast a spell (Somatic/Material) while wielding a shield+weapon or two weapons, we simply consider that you have used your 1 free Interaction per turn. Which just means you cannot freely open a door, pull out an object, etc. that turn. And yes two-handed weapons (greatsword, bows, etc.) still have the benefit of ignoring that aspect (shields and two weapons have important benefits overall).
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I am not a tabletop player so I will admit that maybe I don't have a perfect understanding but I have read multiple threads about this on various 5e forums and every response I read (which included links to clarifications from 5e developers), indicate that the hand holding the shield can be used to make somatic gestures so I would argue that even a "strict interpretation" of the rules should allow for this.
I am not a tabletop player so I will admit that maybe I don't have a perfect understanding but I have read multiple threads about this on various 5e forums and every response I read (which included links to clarifications from 5e developers), indicate that the hand holding the shield can be used to make somatic gestures so I would argue that even a "strict interpretation" of the rules should allow for this.
The only time I read that was for shields used as Holy Symbols. It is an exception in the rules, though the discussions become very silly (too long to resume here: the entire thing is incoherent). You will read mostly folks state that, officially, you need a free hand to cast a Somatic component spell (with odd exceptions for a Holy Symbol on a shield if the spell has a Material component). The official rules includes the War Caster feat which specifically says that now "You can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands".
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I am not a tabletop player so I will admit that maybe I don't have a perfect understanding but I have read multiple threads about this on various 5e forums and every response I read (which included links to clarifications from 5e developers), indicate that the hand holding the shield can be used to make somatic gestures so I would argue that even a "strict interpretation" of the rules should allow for this.
The only time I read that was for shields used as Holy Symbols. It is an exception in the rules, though the discussions become very silly (too long to resume here: the entire thing is incoherent). You will read mostly folks state that, officially, you need a free hand to cast a Somatic component spell (with odd exceptions for a Holy Symbol on a shield if the spell has a Material component). The official rules includes the War Caster feat which specifically says that now "You can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands".
I'm sure you are right but 5e also allows you to draw/sheathe a weapon for free which makes it less of a problem in tabletop as the druid can cast spells freely and then draw their weapon as a free action when they want it. I assume in tabletop you could even cast shillelagh on your staff or club while it is hanging at your side, then draw it. Really this is only a big issue with the Shillelagh spell and makes melee druid frustrating in Solasta. Maybe one of the subclasses for Druid should have had free warcaster feat like the battle cleric gets,
Steve wrote :
I'm sure you are right but 5e also allows you to draw/sheathe a weapon for free which makes it less of a problem in tabletop as the druid can cast spells freely and then draw their weapon as a free action when they want it. I assume in tabletop you could even cast shillelagh on your staff or club while it is hanging at your side, then draw it. Really this is only a big issue with the Shillelagh spell and makes melee druid frustrating in Solasta. Maybe one of the subclasses for Druid should have had free warcaster feat like the battle cleric gets,
You can do that in this video game, but it is a pain in the butt.
You can cast with weapon set 2 (free hand), and then switch (once per turn) to weapon set 1. But after about 10 hours, I just turned off Somatic Components and it felt good!
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Steve wrote :
I'm sure you are right but 5e also allows you to draw/sheathe a weapon for free which makes it less of a problem in tabletop as the druid can cast spells freely and then draw their weapon as a free action when they want it. I assume in tabletop you could even cast shillelagh on your staff or club while it is hanging at your side, then draw it. Really this is only a big issue with the Shillelagh spell and makes melee druid frustrating in Solasta. Maybe one of the subclasses for Druid should have had free warcaster feat like the battle cleric gets,You can do that in this video game, but it is a pain in the butt.
You can cast with weapon set 2 (free hand), and then switch (once per turn) to weapon set 1. But after about 10 hours, I just turned off Somatic Components and it felt good!
But that doesn't work because when you cast Shillelagh the target weapon has to be currently held in your hand in this game. You can not target inventory or another weapon slot. So if you have a weapon and no shield you can cast it but then if you switch sets you are no longer holding the buffed weapon. The only thing I think you can do is cast on your weapon, then instead of switching sets, you can equip the shield from your inventory with your one free inventory move. Of course then you have to remove the shield after the battle to be ready to do it again next time since the spell only lasts 1 minute.
But that doesn't work because when you cast Shillelagh the target weapon has to be currently held in your hand in this game. You can not target inventory or another weapon slot. So if you have a weapon and no shield you can cast it but then if you switch sets you are no longer holding the buffed weapon. The only thing I think you can do is cast on your weapon, then instead of switching sets, you can equip the shield from your inventory with your one free inventory move. Of course then you have to remove the shield after the battle to be ready to do it again next time since the spell only lasts 1 minute.
Oh, I see your point : I misunderstood. You cannot cast on the item inside the Inventory.
What I did for hours (but lost patience) is :
- Start with weapon set B that has a free hand ;
- Cast Shillelagh on weapon set A (club+shield) - which does the switch.
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But that doesn't work because when you cast Shillelagh the target weapon has to be currently held in your hand in this game. You can not target inventory or another weapon slot. So if you have a weapon and no shield you can cast it but then if you switch sets you are no longer holding the buffed weapon. The only thing I think you can do is cast on your weapon, then instead of switching sets, you can equip the shield from your inventory with your one free inventory move. Of course then you have to remove the shield after the battle to be ready to do it again next time since the spell only lasts 1 minute.
Oh, I see your point : I misunderstood. You cannot cast on the item inside the Inventory.
What I did for hours (but lost patience) is :
- Start with weapon set B that has a free hand ;
- Cast Shillelagh on weapon set A (club+shield) - which does the switch.
That's not correct. I just tested it again. The spell can only target what you are currently holding in your hand. If you start with a weapon set B (free hands) and cast the spell, you can not target the weapon slotted in set A.
You have to start with club and no shield, cast the spell on the club you are holding, then equip a shield to that same weapon set (never changing weapon sets). Then you have to remove the shield after each fight so you can do it again because the spell only has 1 minute duration.
Either way, I think we both agree that the current implementation is not fun.
What I did for hours (but lost patience) is :
- Start with weapon set B that has a free hand ;
- Cast Shillelagh on weapon set A (club+shield) - which does the switch.
That's not correct. I just tested it again. The spell can only target what you are currently holding in your hand. If you start with a weapon set B (free hands) and cast the spell, you can not target the weapon slotted in set A.
You have to start with club and no shield, cast the spell on the club you are holding, then equip a shield to that same weapon set (never changing weapon sets). Then you have to remove the shield after each fight so you can do it again because the spell only has 1 minute duration.
Either way, I think we both agree that the current implementation is not fun.
Well, sorry, it actually worked for me and I did it for about 10 hours of play.
I never needed to equip from the Inventory. Only casting with a free hand and selecting the weapon in the other set (quarterstaff+shield), BUT to do so I also clicked the weapon set switch at the same time.
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In tabletop, the target staff/club is the material component for the spell. In tabletop, if the spell has an S and and an M component you must have a free hand OR be holding the M component in your hand.
Ergo, in tabletop, so long as the target staff/club is in your hand, you do not need your other hand to be free.
Note that you cannot cast Shillelagh on a staff/club that is not in your hand.
I'm trying a druid in Caer Falcarn. It's been frustrating. The only druid spell focus available is handheld. There are no merchants, at least as far as I've gotten (started at lvl1, now lvl4). Shillelagh is uncastable. If I have a club in one hand and the spell focus/component pouch in the other, there's no free hand to cast the spell. There's no merchant to buy a necklace, wrist, belt, etc version of the spell focuse, component pouch. There's no way to make one. Druid's should simply not start the game with a handheld focus, it's crippling expecially when it can't be replaced.
Produce flame also has issues. It's got many of the same problems If I'm holding the flame in my hand, I should be able to hurl it at an enemy or whatever. I can't even drop the flame as a free action so I can cast a spell (more handheld spell focus issues). The nice thing about produce flame is it's both a light source and a way to attack, but here it's just a weak cantrip.
I basically gave up and turned off the spell component requirement.
"The only druid spell focus available is handheld."
The druidic focus (wand-like thing) can be placed in the accessory slot (where potions go), but then you don't have fast access to healing potions. The only other focus that works is the general component pouch, which fits in the same slot. It seems like the component belt and component bracer SHOULD work (per a post on reddit by Myzzrym, but they currently only work for arcane casters.
Splitting to foci up into general, arcane, divine, and druidic makes sense logically but isn't really fair for druids. Wizards and sorcerers can place their focus almost anywhere. Clerics and paladins can even mark their shields. But a druid has to hold theirs or give up the potion slot.
"I basically gave up and turned off the spell component requirement."
I had already done that with the somatic requirement. Doing so with the material requirement seems perfectly reasonable in this game.